26.06.2026
KOTG NS Celebrates a Fantastic Year
There was a bumper morning of celebration of a fantastic year at Kill O’ the Grange NS on Tuesday (June 23). A special and joyous assembly was held to honour a much loved and long serving staff member, to launch the school’s new ethos statement and to rejoice in the awarding of no less than four new flags.
Michelle Keogh retired as an SNA at the school after 18 years during which, school principal Rachel Gavin said, she has been a source of support, kindness, encouragement and care for countless children. “She has helped pupils overcome challenges, discover their strengths and reach their potential. She has enriched the lives of every child she has worked with and has been a valued colleague and friend to us all,” she stated.
Ms Gavin said they were also celebrating the school ethos and welcomed the patron, Archbishop Michael Jackson, to the assembly. “Our new ethos statement captures who we are as a school community and the values that we strive to live each day,” she commented. She said Michelle had embodied these values during her 18 years at the school.
Pupils put together a range of performances to highlight the values outlined in the ethos statement which speaks of nurturing, kindness, courage and ensuring that every child belongs. They connected those values to Michelle’s time in the school. Sixth class masters of ceremony Beth and Ethan made sure the show ran smoothly.
Michelle, who was joined at the assembly by her family, said she was grateful for her 18 years with the school. She paid particular tribute to her kids in the NEST and said they would always be in her heart.
Archbishop Michael Jackson helped to raise the flags that KOTG NS has been awarded recently – the Active Flag, the Green Flag, the ADHD Flag and the Bi Cinnealta Flag. He commended the work on the school’s ethos statement and the achievement in being awarded the flags.
“Both the performance that you put on this morning and the flags that we are raising give colour to ethos. But what gives life to ethos is the people and to be able to cluster this around what Michelle has done with this school over 18 years really shows me that ethos is about the way we live, the way we care for one another, the way we look out for one another and the way we flourish,” he stated.
